Press Releases

February 18, 2002
Southampton College Loses Thriller to Vassar in Men's Volleyball

Contact:
Darren Johnson (PR@southampton.liu.edu)
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

Southampton, NY - In most league play during the year, a team only faces an opponent twice, but Southampton College of Long Island University and Vassar College have gotten much better acquainted during the start of the 2002 volleyball season.

Sunday, February 17, marked the fifth meeting between the teams, including preseason tournaments, and the third official showdown, in just the eighth game of the Colonials? season. Vassar has been the team to come out on top each time, but by narrowing margins.

The Colonials started off Sunday strong, winning the first game. Showing great poise and teamwork, Southampton College came out intense and prepared to avenge the earlier losses and snap their own five-game losing streak.

Southampton was up 2-0 (30-25 and 30-24), but at the start of the third game, Vassar felt the pressure and began to play with spirit. The Colonials matched their intensity, but were unable to come out as victor. The fourth game saw more disappointment for the Colonials, as they watched Vassar squeak by in a well-played game from Southampton College.

Vassar had come back with narrow 30-26, 30-27 wins, setting up a fifth and deciding game. In the end it was the Vassar College Brewers who were victorious, winning the final game 15-13. Junior captain Scott Schult (11 kills) said, "We came out strong in the first two games, but we lost a little intensity in the third. We then picked it back up and fought hard, but came up short."

Joe Daigler paced the Colonials with 20 kills while Pete Wawrzyniak had 11 digs.

Romanian National Team setter and Colonial rookie Ionut Ghira had 55 assists.

First-year coach Carmen Walker said, "We played well. The guys are beginning to gel as a team, and the connection between the setter and hitters is getting better every day." The Colonials are now 3-5 (0-4 Hay Division) while Vassar is 10-1 (4-1 Hay).

reported by Eric Bradley